‘Growing up gay in NI was awful… I had to get out of here’

Armagh photographer honours late film-maker and activist as he launches book featuring artist’s famous seaside home

Gilbert at Prospect Cottage

Stephanie Bell

A controversial movie by an iconic film-maker and gay rights activist opened up the world for Northern Ireland photographer Gilbert McCarragher as a young teen struggling with life in the homophobic 1980s.

Now nearly 40 years later, the Armagh man has been given the rare chance to honour the creator behind the controversial film Sebastiane by launching a new book featuring the late artist’s famous seaside home.